17
Victor was sitting outside of the Wyld's making sure Jo stayed in for the night. He saw her sneak out wearing her ball gown, so he was relieved she was not heading to Madams. He thought he would follow her, but he was wrong because she walked two blocks and then caught the only hack that was out that late at night. Victor could not catch up he lost her. Jensen and Wayne were going to kill him if something happened to her.
Jo made it home without being seen and rushed upstairs to change. She had decided on the way over that she would wear one of Luther's suits he was a little taller than her, but he was thin like her and she would just tack up the legs and the sleeves. Tacking the clothes took her a good thirty minutes she had learned another useful thing from Wilma stage Makeup application. She added a bit of scruff and then she was ready to go. She snatched one of Luther's caps and took some of her pin money and then she was ready for the night. She planned on doing a little gambling that was another thing she was grateful for Wilma and Egbert teaching her. She was rather good at it not a professional, but she would get by. She decided to walk out of her neighborhood and catch another hack. She had been to the lower section of London but never this late at night and so she would be a little safer than she normally would by taking a hack.
When she arrived at Madam's she took a deep breath and hopped out acting more like a man than a woman. She was not sure what to expect she had read a magazine that described gaming halls so she was hoping they had gotten it right and she would know what to expect. She walked through the door and looked around. She was positive the article she had read was way off the mark. It was nothing like she expected. She looked around for any familiar faces so far she did not see Jensen which was good. She overheard a gentleman call out to the men at the table.
"Landers make sure Canton keeps his mouth shut."
She assumed that must be Moss. There was another man sitting at the table she knew he was a noble man he wore the ring of a Marquis. She took the opened seat at a table with two of the men on her list. She pulled out her money and placed it on the table. The cards were dealt, Jo had a decent hand she was not worried about winning she was here for information. She had not said anything she was not sure what the protocol was about talking at the table the article did not get into gambling etiquette. She played her hand and threw in her cards just to see what or if someone would say something. It payed off and the other two threw their hands in giving the winning hand to the Marquis.
It was Landers who did the talking demanding to know who Jo was. She had a scenario all worked out at least she did in her head. She knew even for a man she was too, so she decided to claim to be the younger brother of the Earl of Hampton Neil. She knew Nathan the earl and his brother were both blond and very pretty. The earl had been claimed years before as the most beautiful man in England, so they should believe it.
"Neil Hampton is there a problem?"
"This was a closed game is all."
"I see I saw the open chair and figured I would join in Sorry."
She started to get up, but Cantor decided he could stay.
"It's fine sit."
Jo sat back down and waited to see what was going to happen now that she was told to go away by one and to stay by the other.
"I've introduced myself are you three going to reciprocate?"
"Warren Landers."
This was the man who asked her to leave. Thomas Canton went next and then the Marquis. Who gave his name as Harvey Booth? They played a few more hands and she won two of them and then Booth won a few. Jo had a look at the front door and the office door so if Jensen were to come in the hall or out of his office she would see him. She had been sitting playing cards for a couple of hours and she had not seen Jensen. Then he walked out of the office he looked different she would know him anywhere. He had been a duke's son and carried himself as one of nobility. How did people not see he was not from the lower class.
She watched him going to tables greeting the players. Then a woman came in and rushed up to him and put her arms around him. He pulled her away and she started to pout.
"Jackie Boy do you not want me anymore?"
Jo finished her game and then bid the gentleman good night and got up from the table and started to walk out of the gaming hell. She had no reason to be upset he had pulled the woman off him. But the pain of seeing him with another woman crushed her. Jensen could not help noticing the man who seemed in a hurry to get out of there. Then he noticed the swish of the hips and the roundness of the backside and knew who and why they were rushing out. He moved away from Pearl and rushed over to Johanna.
"Going somewhere?"
She looked at him trying to give him a look of being affronted but he had a smile on his face melting her heart, and she smiled. He led her into his office.
"Home, I was going home!"
"You were supposed to stay at Katie's"
"Was I?"
"JOHANNA"
"Ok I did not listen I came here to see if I could get any information and I did. See it was worth me coming to Madam's Jackie Boy."
He growled then pulled her to him and kissed her hard. Just then the door burst opened, and Victor rushed in.
"Oh, sorry I did not mean to intrude. I just came to..."
Jensen pulled away from Johanna and looked over at Victor.
"You came to tell me what?"
"I lost Johanna, she left the Wylds and took a hack I cannot find her anywhere."
They both began to laugh, and Jo took her cap off.
"Found me!"
Victor was livid they told her to stay at the Wyld's there was no reason for her to leave.
"Well my Lord I found out somethings quite odd and somethings that I learned but would not have if I had not sat down and observed the men and played cards with them."
She hmphed at Victor he could not help thinking the cheek of the girl.
"Fine then I will not tell you anything since my skills are not wanted."
"I did not say that Jo. I want you to take orders. Your uncle will have my head which I would like to keep."
"I think you are over exaggerating my uncle is not that nasty."
Victor looked to Jensen.
"Is she serious does she not know the level of her uncle's skill."
Jo stomped her foot down.
"Victor Valentine I do not know what my uncle does in service to the crown. I have never asked him why would I? Did you ask any of your family what they do for the crown?"
"What do you know about my family in service to the crown?"
"I know Jamie."
"who tells you these things?"
Jensen had enough of their bickering, but he had to laugh it almost sounded like him and Jenner used to.
"Enough let's find out what she found out we will deal with the Earls later."
"Lord I forgot about Banks. We're dead."
"A little over dramatic Victor if you ask me."
"If you were my sister I would lock you in the house."
"That is not how Tory, Val and Daphne tell it."
"Just tell us what you know?"
"First as I was walking in Moss was leaving and he told Landers to make sure that Canton kept his mouth shut. Then as I watched them play before I sat down to join them. I noticed that they were purposely losing to the Marquis."
"Which Marquis?"
"I do not know I just barely got his name out of them. I believe he said it was Booth, but it was not clear, so I am not positive."
Jensen was curious.
"How do you know they were purposely losing to him?"
"I saw their hands; onetime Landers threw away a running flush. Another time Canton threw away a Prial of threes. Unless the game of brag has changed those are usually winning hands."
Jacob decided to walk out to see which Marquis was sitting at the table but all three men had left so he could not see who this man was and what he might have to do with the Eaton third years. He called Mac over to see if he could tell them who was playing.
"Mac do you know who was playing at table four?"
"There were five men that played throughout the night. Two of them were Noblemen but I do not know who they were I just could tell the way they held themselves. The others were well bred. The one who you took into your office I assume you know him but boss I will tell you that boy should stay out of gaming halls and such until he is a bit older after all he might be mistaken for a dandy if he is not."
Jacob laughed maybe someday he would tell Johanna what Mac's first impression of her was. But not until she was older and could understand the meaning better. He went back into his office to tell Victor and Johanna that Mack did not know who they were. He was not surprised that he found the two of them bickering again. He made a mental note to keep those two separated. He had never known Victor to set off a woman he used to charm them that was before he married Izzy.
"Children enough is enough. What is it with you two?"
Neither of them could tell him why they were even bickering. Victor started to tattle that is the only way he could describe his behavior. He was not acting like the number two man of the agents of the crown. He was acting like a twelve-year-old boy. He had to wonder if this were how he and Tory would have fought when they were children. He felt like asking but there were more important things to discuss once he listened to what Victor was whining about.
"They said she needs to be taken care of before she figures out anything she had already found the room where TS was staying. Will you please explain to her they were talking about killing her before the end of the week!"
Johanna was a lot calmer that Victor was being, but he really did not blame him since that was not news he wanted to tell the Earls or Simon. But her being calmed gave him time to put things into perspective. They needed to think clearly and act sooner they had less time than what they had. He turned to the woman who had stolen his heart and smiled. He could chastise her later when they were alone. Victor was right she never once gave a thought to her safety and he could not have that.
"Johanna dear what else did they say?"
"Well if Victor would have let me finish."
Victor grumbled that he had not stopped her.
"They mentioned that if Moss did not move the things buried within the tree then they would all hang. I think that is the tree he is always checking."
"Was there anything else Johanna?"
"They mentioned that there is someone else that Moss needed to take care of but Nezzy was resisting."
Jensen really needed to sit down he needed to get his aunt to talk. She had to be the one Nesbit was protecting. This was getting worse by the minute. He needed to get Johanna home and needed to talk with Pauline. The problem was she had never said a word to him in all the years they lived together. Tonight, for the first time when she spoke to Johanna's brother Luther he had heard her voice. Things could be worse he guessed the woman he loved had a contract out on her put on her by his Uncle and his friends. Then his aunt was in danger for something he was positive she knew. Who in his life would be next?
"I think we need to go and tell a few people what is happening and keep the women safe. Johanna put your hat back on and you and Hayden here walk out together. I will follow and meet the two of you two blocks down. Victor you know where. I am going to warn the two of you do not talk with each other if I find out you two are arguing I will not only tell Simon, I will tell Tory and then we will go from there."
Victor called him a few choice names under his breath and then Johanna was ready to go.
"Not a word from either of you now go."
The two of them walked out of Jack Billings office and started to the better end of London. Neither of them said a word and they just walked to their destination. When they reached the meeting place they waited for Jensen. When he finally arrived, he found the two of them standing apart ignoring each other. He was glad making a scene this late would bring people out and call attention to them.
Jensen led them to his carriage that was waiting for him. They all got in and Jensen drove all of them to Victors then he went to take Johanna home.
"You know what you did tonight you put yourself at risk. I do not appreciate that."
She was getting ready to argue with him, but he placed his finger on her lips.
"let me finish I also think what you did tonight was very brave, and I am proud that you are not a weak female and that you follow through and keep your word. I am going to be enormously proud to call you my wife."
Before he could finish she was all over him kissing him.
"I love you so much. I knew it with every passing day we spent together."
"I did too Johanna. I did too. Now before I forget to ask what is between you and Victor. I did not think you two knew each other."
"Victor and I have always argued. When I was younger I would go with Katie to the Valentine house to visit Jamie. For some reason Victor and I were always at each other's throat. There is no reason for it. Other than we argue he never did anything to me for me to behave like that. And I remember one time the two of us were made to make dinner for the entire Valentine family and guests as our punishment. His father hoped it would teach us to work together but the Duke was wrong no matter what we would do we argue. It got so bad I stopped going with Katie, so I did not put the Valentines through our bad behavior."
"But he is so much older than you."
"It is silly is it not. I do not have an answer for it I just know putting the two of us in the same room an explosion happens."
"I will keep that in mind. Now come here and kiss me a little more before we reach Hartford House."
She gladly acquiesced and there was not another word between them until they were ready to say good-bye. He walked her to the door and waited till she was in before leaving. Before he left he told her he would be back for her at eight in the morning sharp they needed to meet with a lot of different people his Aunt Pauline being one of them.